An Account of the Campaign in the West Indies, in the Year 1794 Part 13

Parole, CORNWALLIS.

In consequence of the death of Captain Blacker, sixty-fifth, and the illness of Captain Ingram, fifty-eighth, Captain Lee of forty-fourth grenadiers, and Captain Holland of sixtieth regiment, are to replace those officers as members of the general court martial ordered to meet this day.

GENERAL ORDERS. _Head Quarters, St. Pierre, Martinico, August 31, 1794._

The appointment of Captain Hare, of the light dragoons, to be aid de camp to the Commander in Chief, is not to interfere with or prevent his having the entire command of the detachment of British light dragoons, which he retains as if no such appointment had been made.

AFTER ORDERS.

The general court martial, of which Lieutenant General Prescott is president, is hereby dissolved; and all officers are to repair to their posts, where they are so much wanted.

F. MAITLAND, deputy adjutant general.

_Head Quarters, St. Pierre, Martinique, Nov. 7, 1794._

Parole, UNANIMITY.

The recent act of inhumanity and barbarity committed at Guadaloupe by the enemy (by whom a considerable number of royalists were murdered in cold blood, after having fallen into their hands at Berville camp as prisoners of war, and who had become subjects of Great Britain, by taking the oath of allegiance to the British government, after the conquest of that island), calls aloud for the following order and declaration of the Commander in Chief: That all persons residing in the conquered islands of Martinico, Guadaloupe, and St. Lucia, and their dependencies, whether French or of any other nation, having taken the oath of allegiance to the government of Great Britain, and who demean and conduct themselves accordingly, shall receive every protection that the other subjects of Great Britain do in these islands: and should such cases of extremity happen as may render a capitulation necessary, no terms are to be proposed or accepted, which do not give equal security, safety, and protection, to them as to the other subjects of Great Britain, as well those with arms as those without; consequently, no place is to be surrendered before this is expressly and explicitly acknowledged and subscribed to by the enemy, that in any extremity we may stand or fall together: and the Commander in Chief earnestly recommends a continuance and confirmation of this order to his successors in command, as a measure of justice, dictated by honour and humanity.

The Commander in Chief hopes that this explicit order and declaration, giving such ample security to the royalists on his part, will ease their minds; and, confidence being restored, that it will produce a becoming zeal and exertion to unite for the public interest heart and hand, in contributing to good order and tranquillity; and that he may expect there will not be any further emigration on the bare report of an enemy's approach, or even on being actually landed; as every apprehension of danger must be dispelled when all are heartily united for the common safety and defence.

The Commander in Chief, hoping therefore for this effect and conduct from the people in general, does in a more particular manner recommend to persons of consequence to set a laudable example of fort.i.tude on every occasion, and to a.s.semble and embody under proper leaders, to act in conjunction with his majesty's regular troops, for the protection of their honour, families, and fortunes, which must be dearer to them than life.

The King having been pleased to order that the colours taken at Martinique by the forces under Sir Charles Grey, K. B. and Sir John Jervis, K. B. which were brought to the palace at St. James's, should be deposited in the Cathedral of St. Paul, on Sat.u.r.day, May 17, 1795, detachments of horse and foot guards were ordered to parade at St.

James's at ten o'clock, and marched before his Majesty, who was pleased to see them pa.s.s by in the following order:

A Captain and forty life guards, A serjeant and twelve grenadiers, Music of the first regiment of guards, Twenty-nine serjeants with the FRENCH COLOURS, A Field Officer and one hundred life guards.

In this manner they proceeded to the west gate of St. Paul's, where the colours were received by the Dean and Chapter, attended by the choir, about which time the guns at the Tower and Park were fired.

The colours are since put up in the said cathedral church as a lasting memorial of the success of his Majesty's arms in the reduction of the important island of Martinique.

EXTRACT FROM THE PARLIAMENTARY REGISTER,

Vol. x.x.xviiii. p. 329.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

"_Tuesday, May 20, 1794._

"The following resolutions were severally put, and pa.s.sed nem. con.

"That the thanks of this House be given to Sir Charles Grey, Knight of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, for his late able, gallant, and meritorious conduct in the West Indies.

"That the thanks of this House be given to Sir John Jervis, Knight of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, for his late able, gallant, and meritorious conduct in the West Indies.

"That the thanks of this House be given to Lieutenant General Prescott, his Royal Highness Major General Prince Edward, and Major General Thomas Dundas, and to the several Officers of the army under the command of Sir Charles Grey, for their late gallant and meritorious exertions in the West Indies.

"That the thanks of this House be given to Rear Admiral Thompson, and to the several Captains and Officers of the fleet under the command of Sir John Jervis, for their late gallant conduct and meritorious exertions in the West Indies.

"That this House doth highly approve and acknowledge the services of the Non-commissioned Officers and Soldiers in the army serving under Sir Charles Grey in the West Indies; and that the same be signified to them by the commanders of the several corps, who are desired to thank them for their late gallant behaviour.

"That this House doth highly approve and acknowledge the services of the Sailors and Marines serving on board the fleet under command of Sir John Jervis in the West Indies; and that the same be signified to them by the captains of the several s.h.i.+ps, who are desired to thank them for their gallant behaviour."

Mr. Dundas then moved, "That Mr. Speaker do signify the said resolutions to Sir Charles Grey and Sir John Jervis."--Pa.s.sed nem. con.